LDS missionaries adhere to a rigorous daily schedule for two years.
Due to the challenging nature of a mission, Church leaders are instructed to only recommend young men and women who are spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally prepared to face the realities of missionary work.
The very nature of missionary work, although fun and exciting, is extremely stressful on the physical body.
This stress weakens the immune system and tests the body's adaptive mechanisms leaving it vulnerable to fatigue, illness and injury.
A tired, sick or injured missionary is not as effective at serving others and sharing the gospel as a healthy missionary.
Living a healthy, active lifestyle enables the body to effectively handle stress, thus reducing the chance of illness and injury.
A missionary's level of health and fitness prior to and while serving a mission may propel them to success or stop them in their tracks.
To help encourage your missionary to live an active and healthy lifestyle consider giving them the gift that will help improve their health by providing them with an exercise program or fitness equipment that they can take with them on their mission.
Here are some other ideas to consider as gifts of health to give your missionary: Athletic wear.
Missionaries need appropriate attire to wear during their workout time.
Sweats, t-shirt, shorts, socks and athletic shoes are all items that any missionary would appreciate and get a lot of use from.
Portable workout equipment.
Anything that is small and lightweight is a good idea.
Things like a jump rope or exercise tubing can help tremendously in making more productive use of the allotted morning exercise time.
A log book to document exercises.
It doesn't have to be anything special.
A notebook works just fine.
You can even visit the Missionary Fitness website to get a missionary specific workout and nutrition journal that you can print off at no cost.
Sports equipment.
A basketball, baseball, football, frisbee or even a tennis racquet can be used by your missionary to relax and get some physical activity in at the same time on Preparation Day or during the morning exercise time.
As missionaries take care of their health they will be able to endure the physical demand of missionary work much better.
They will be better prepared to serve with all of their heart, might, mind and strength.
There will be a reduction in the cost of missionary healthcare, a reduction of time lost from the missionary work and more people will have the chance to hear the gospel due to the improved health in missionaries.